City of Stirling to investigate acquiring part of Doubleview PS site earmarked for proposed International School of WA development

Artist impression of the proposed International School of WA in Doubleview.

CITY of Stirling will investigate acquiring a section of the Doubleview Primary School site earmarked for development of an international school.

Mayor Mark Irwin presented a notice of motion at last night’s council meeting requesting the City investigate the potential acquisition of a portion of the site to be used as public open space and protect existing trees.

It followed council’s decision moments earlier to object to the proposed relocation of the International School of WA (ISWA) to Doubleview in its submission to the Metro North-West Development Assessment Panel.

His reasons for the motion were that ISWA had failed to demonstrate they had taken community concerns into account regarding student and teacher numbers, traffic management, decreased amenity and protecting tree canopy cover.

The motion stated there was “no reason” ISWA could not remain in City Beach following a reversal of the previous State Government’s decision and that Doubleview had one of the lowest public open space percentages in the City.

Cr Irwin vacated the mayor’s chair to participate in debate about the panel submission, telling the chamber his view on the proposal had changed over time.

“Community will is against it,” he said.

“Each time it has come back (to council), they (the applicant) have failed to take into account residents’ concerns.”

He believed the loss of trees was a major issue, especially given the City aimed to have 18 per cent tree canopy cover by 2030.

Councillors Elizabeth Re and Stephanie Proud noted residents’ overwhelming objection to the proposed school, the removal of nearly 80 trees that would be required for the development, projected increased population in the area and the site’s public use zoning.